San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-04-22
ON THE PACIFIC.
A WONDERFUL TERRITORY DEVEL-
OPING FAST.
The Whole World for a Nelghbor-aow
Women Appear as Politicians.
Tho FIsheries Etc.

Tho Fisheries, Etc.
A LIGHT reporter has interviewed
Mr.. j. f. Byrne, a wealthy citizen OF
Seattle, Washington Territory, who for
several weeks past has been stopping at
the ST. Leonard hotel in this city, and In
company with his friend, Mr.. J. i. Par
Ser, of Alabama, has been looking up
some old claims to several thousand
acres OF land in this section, principally
around Kennedy Junction, which land
descends to him through Capt, Itckner,
one of the Texas soldiers who was mas
sacred at GOnAd In the Texan war or
independence. Mrs. TlGkner, the aged
widow OF Capt. riCkner. ia now com
Portable at Mr.. Byrne's nome in Seattle,
and she Ia now Mt the age OF 81. MT.
Byrne being approached rs regards the
country he came from, Bis own words
are used in the replies he gave to the re-
porter's questions:
Reporter-Mr Byrne, | see you hall
from Seattle, Washington territory.
| believe there are many readers OF
the LIGHT who would be glad TO hear OF
that country, its TesOurGes-its climate,
and particularly how the woman sui
frsge question Ia looked upon there.
Mr.. Washington has great
future. Its position on the Pacific gives
il the world for a neighb0r. Its trade
in lumber and coal Is now immense.
The iron trade has scarcely put on Its
swaddling clothes, for as soon as the
railroads now in course OF construction
are finished 10 the Cascades, Seattle will
be the Birmingham OF Puget Sound.
Then the fisheries are great source OF
revenue. In agriculture she outstrips
all other states. A small quantity OF
land near Puget Sound, shipped last
year twenty thousand bales OF
hops, netting the farmer
about one hundred dollars per acre.
For dairying purposes 1t cannot De ex-
celled, as the native grasses (clOyer and
timothy grow Iuxuriantly and are green
about nine months of the year; besides,
the water is cool, refreshing and plenti-
ful, and best of all, the temperature Is
all that can be desired, the thermometer
going to So only few days in the sum-
mer and seldom touches 80 above zero In
winter, with mean of 6S. Yes, sir, We
have a grand and delightful country.
consider the scenery of Puget Sound.
taken from Seattle at summer sunset,
the grandest to be found in the world.
RepOrter-DO you produce any fruits
there?
MIR. Byrne-Fruits Why, sir, from
the 10Th of May we have all kinds OF Der
ries and fruits, rs plentiful as potatoes,
and they 1.-THE pOtatOes) are so cheap that
the merchants Just sell you sack for
half dollar, weighing about l5pounds'
Ii ia the yerV home of the strawberry,
the blackberry, the raspberry and
gooseberry, the cherry and the plum,
the pear and the apple.
Reporter-HOw is society in Seattle
and Washington territory, generally?
Mr.. Byrne-I find but little difference
in American society locally. The Old
mossbacks-a people such as you call
nestOrs here - are superior class OF
men, being the leaders in every enter
prise, while the millmen and merchants
are fully alive to their respective call
ings, If education moulds society, then
Seattle will soon take prominent posi-
ton, tor her schools and university Will
stand favorably against any in the
union.
Rep0rter-By the way, do you expect
to get into the Union soon
Mr.. Byrne No, sir; don't think we
can ever get in while democracy is in
the majority, and continues the short
sighted policy of keeping in power re-
gardless of the welfare of the people
Washington should have been stag
five years ago, but, then, the people
there are Independent and can afford to
wait.
RepOrter-Have you ever been out to
an election during women suffrage! Dld
you notice any change and what is the
general result aud feeling out there
about it.
MIR. Byrne-Yes, have attended cleo
lions and seen women peddle tickets and
vote. The change is surely for the bet
ter. have seen eX-supreme judges
come up with their wives to vote. VOt-
ing amongst women has been very gen.
eral. They seemed to take very intel
ligent view of politics. So far as have
seen, the ballot will never be prOstituted
by women. Then, as jurors, | consider
women the equal of man in every sense,
and the most peculiar thing Of all, once
saw a local option election in Seattle,
where the women voted, and many OF
them voted for free whiskey, believing
that if man wished to take drink, he
alone was responsible. This thing that
the ballot will tend to lower women in
her sphere of usefulness is all a myth.
RepOrter-Did not your supreme court
decide that the law by which the women
vote was unconstitutional?
Mr.. Byrne-l think not, sir. You see
| have been away from home since last
August, and did not get the papers reg
ularly, but from what | can learn the
decision Of the court has not been as to
women suffrage, but woman, according
to the learned Judge, does not come
within the meaning of the law as house
holders, and are thus disqualified as jur-
Ors. 1t will be all righted in time.
RepOrter-ATe your courts presided
over by able judges? What is the char
aCter of the bar out there?
MIR. Byrne-I am familiar only with
the bar of King county, and | do say it is
as high in standing and ability as any
have ever seen. The late depOsed Judge
Green is one of the ablest jurists
I.hsve ever known. Even his foes re-
spected his ability and sincerity.
Reporter-Well, you seem to be an
enthusiast over your country; now, what
do you thing of ours?
MIR. Byrne-G our country, Texas, has
a grand future. You will be the leading
state in the Union if you can only sue
coed in ENGRAVING little spirit Of re-
publicanism among the people. l think
your greatest danger lies in your over
whelming democratic majority.
RepOrter-HOw soon will you return
to Washington?
Mr.. Byrne-AbOut the first of May.
But let me say here that a more gener
Gus or noble people than the Texans, nor
a more misrepreseDted people, do not
exist. have had the pleasure of the
acquaintance of many honorable men
here who shall live ever in my memory.
Mr.. Byrne left today for FL PasO,
where he expects to look about him and